MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Kyle Lohse bounced back from a poor start this season and the Milwaukee Brewers snapped an eight-game losing streak, beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 Thursday.
Closer Francisco Rodriguez pumped his right arm and yelled after recording the final out. The win was a relief for the Brewers, whose 3-13 mark is the worst in the majors.
Jean Segura drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the seventh. The hit off Kevin Gregg (0-2) went to center field, and Billy Hamilton's throw home was up the third base line, allowing Logan Schafer to score.
Lohse (1-3) pitched seven neat innings after losing his first three starts with a 10.34 ERA.
Marlon Byrd homered for the Reds, a two-run shot that tied it at 2 in the fifth.
Otherwise, Lohse was in control. The veteran right-hander worked ahead in counts with a sinker and slider in the early innings.
Lohse gave up three hits, walked one and struck out four.
Setup man Jonathan Broxton struck out the side in the eighth.
Rodriguez posted his second save. He gave up a two-out double to Zack Cozart before Joey Votto, who was hitting .386 with six homers, hit a harmless bouncer to second to end the game.
The Brewers also escaped without giving up a run despite allowing Hamilton, the Reds' speedy leadoff man, to reach base twice.
Hamilton was 9 of 9 on stolen base attempts coming into the day before Martin Maldonado became the first catcher to throw him out. Maldonado nailed Hamilton at second in the sixth.
The Brewers tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Ryan Braun stole third and dashed home after third baseman Kristopher Negron allowed the throw from catcher Tucker Barnhart to squirt away.
Reds starter Homer Bailey gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: Manager Bryan Price said he was looking for consistency from Bailey. The right-hander, Price said, was fine physically, but needed to build his endurance back up.
Brewers: Maldonado will play every day until he needs a day off, manager Ron Roenicke said. Maldonado is replacing Jonathan Lucroy, who is expected to spend at least a month on the disabled list with a fractured big left toe. ... Rodriguez appeared to be fine after the reliever tweaked his right wrist on a play at the plate that allowed the go-ahead run to score off his wild pitch the previous night. The Reds won 2-1.
UP NEXT
Reds: Mike Leake (0-1) gets the start against the Cubs with Cincinnati opening a six-game homestand. Leake is 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last six starts against Chicago.
Brewers: Matt Garza (1-2) opens a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals. Opponents are hitting .300 (21 for 70) against the right-hander this season.
